Ballast Portland Cement for Ballast Box

[NYBOB]

I see at my local Lowes they have Portland Cement type 1 in a 94lb bag. Is this what I want to use on my ballast box? If it is the right type, how many bags would I need?

Thanks

 

[MAYOR8020]

you want ready mix (quickcrete 80lb ) much easier and you dont need to buy stone and sand just add water. i made one like this it was fun
you need to form up w/ ply then add rebar for strength mine was about
24" wide 16" deep 30" high it took about 8-10 bgs weighs 600 lb
real nice i will try and post pics for ya
dws

 

[kennyd]

The Portland cement will offer the heaviest weight per volume. I think it takes 5 or 6 bags to fill the JD ballast box.

 

[Racer71]

Cement is what holds concrete together. You want the sand, gravel and rocks also.

 

[kennyd]

Mayor and Racer:
The Portland is being poured into a JD ballast box made of steel. There is no need for forms.

And NYOB: Be sure to seal the inside seams with caulk before you pour or the water will run out and make a mess!

 

[chopprjok2000]

Portland will form solid without the rock or sand. In concrete the rock and sand are used to provide a course material for the Portland to bond with. They are also fillers, because you couldn't afford to pour a pad out of straight portland cement.

I ran a quikrete plant for 6 years, and I would have to go back and check some old documents, but I think your greatest density (weight) would be to use the straight portland, I would mix it pretty dry though, if you get it too wet it becomes very soupy.

I would not use masonry cement, it wouldn't do well in this application.

 

[JiminGa]

why not use straight sand bags? that way if you ever need to empty the box, you can...

 

[dirtworksequip]

Re: Ballast/ Ballast Box question

Here are the weights given by JD for their Ballast Box.

Ballast box weights are: full of dry sand 616 lbs.
full of concrete 780 lbs.
full of portland cement 1042 lbs.

Sincerely, Dirt
__________________
"Good judgement comes from experience.Experience comes from bad judgement."

 

[stuart]

Does anybody know the weight of the JD ballast box?

 

[dirtworksequip]

Staurt, I just knew someone would ask!

JD ballast box empty is 129 lbs.
Now here's a plus or to for you so you don't have to ask.
JD ballast box with optional extensions empty weight is 160 lbs.
total weight with dry sand and extensions: 835 lbs.
concrete and extensions:1137 lbs.
The extensions gain you over 200 lbs using dry sand and over 300 lbs using concrete verses loaded box without extensions.

sincerely,dirt